963c9be2-57ac-4895-b87a-2ac1e33ac6beMon, 13 Jan 2020 15:46:44 GMTd17375e2-68a9-4e75-a8d1-f83e1bb67e4cMon, 06 Jan 2020 17:15:48 GMT94a2010a-6dee-4f58-93d4-c3bf6e97b5e7Sun, 27 Oct 2019 14:46:57 GMT293f6f55-df71-4baf-af46-e79c526c326cMon, 16 Sep 2019 13:07:42 GMT34c88132-1cd5-4c94-9068-b031a4a4fcc6Mon, 22 Jul 2019 14:53:24 GMT2ea097ac-f299-4177-9a24-e250c47fd7c8
]]>Fri, 14 Jun 2019 15:25:47 GMTf15626b7-82d7-4242-a8d7-003af9671c24Fri, 08 Mar 2019 15:23:16 GMT1fa54da1-8ecf-4162-97bf-75317779906fSat, 09 Feb 2019 16:16:33 GMT883d5bf1-10aa-41a8-ab78-f0dacae5060bth century gown to reflect the new fashionable 1790s silhouette, copying specific alterations I’ve seen on extant gowns. In this case, I took my mid 1780s blue stripe gown which no longer fit, and altered it to a 1790-4 shape.]]>Sun, 30 Dec 2018 17:49:37 GMT2ccdd632-dc1b-4b5b-a36d-c0c8547cc08cth century neckline-fillers, you immediately think of a fichu or kerchief, right? A plain or ruffled triangle, worn tucked in or left out over the bodice. I’m oversimplifying, obviously, but really it’s easy to not go beyond a simple style. However, once you start looking for it in portraits and paintings, the variety of quirky and interesting things they were wearing at the neckline is surprising!]]>Sat, 17 Nov 2018 17:36:15 GMTb3d4259a-fd57-42b4-b6cb-5729e71ff6eeThu, 25 Oct 2018 15:32:02 GMT5019a76b-fc18-43e6-a4c2-da4397cd4b75Thu, 06 Sep 2018 22:58:25 GMTf38a3f61-e8cb-44ae-8813-f329733a1f24Tue, 14 Aug 2018 14:06:40 GMT2af4e559-ab87-47bd-b771-2272c2516e01Thu, 14 Jun 2018 15:27:11 GMT4a1ce696-f2a1-4bfc-8e3c-4d02cb8b6736th century capes and cloaks, but there is so much variety in the accessories of the last quarter of the century, and I want to make them all!]]>Fri, 23 Mar 2018 16:10:02 GMT7a371f80-c873-434f-bad1-a6ef5e8d2445Fri, 12 Jan 2018 17:05:22 GMTb3eb75cb-c4f1-4e60-8632-60679295fffaTue, 09 Jan 2018 18:25:37 GMTcbd6bdd2-dd1d-431d-b2b9-99091d3f581f
]]>Tue, 19 Dec 2017 18:21:05 GMT3bfa9332-cfe8-4b29-af9f-e42cffd6cb70LBCC Historical to see how they work for me.]]>Fri, 17 Nov 2017 18:26:44 GMT1443b0bb-89c4-41e7-8909-dd1625392450
]]>Tue, 31 Oct 2017 19:42:38 GMTee8f8bef-7578-4ffe-b3bd-b38175f0c2c8Sat, 21 Oct 2017 23:07:36 GMTd8428a17-00a3-4151-80fd-d0f1edf34479Sun, 08 Oct 2017 14:24:58 GMTbe2caf23-2778-4ed7-86c2-570cabe29fccto Colonial Williamsburg last fall, I couldn’t get the idea of a riding habit out of my head. I’ve always envisioned wearing a habit surrounded by gorgeous fall foliage, and I figured this was the perfect opportunity. My blue-green habit no longer fits very well, so I decided to pick up my long-abandoned pink and grey habit project. I already had the shirt from my first habit, the grey wool petticoat and pink silk waistcoat assembled, and a pattern for the jacket started. Of course, once I tried everything on again, I quickly realized the pattern I made three years ago would not work and the waistcoat needed completely remade. So much for a quick project! Thankfully, I loved the way my aqua striped waistcoat looked with the grey wool, so I could focus patterning and constructing a new jacket to go with them.]]>Wed, 27 Sep 2017 16:05:05 GMTcaad3d7e-77f0-4749-a5ed-b8987dcfc173th century costume. I have so few opportunities to wear the costumes I make in such a perfect setting, that it feels like a waste not to take advantage of the opportunity. So, when I traveled down for the Burnley and Trowbridge jacket workshop last November, I planned in an extra day just to play dress up in town.]]>Thu, 21 Sep 2017 15:24:45 GMT619e63e1-11d2-4256-9ddb-2021a8c5c7ed2017 Jane Austen Festival, but I wanted to talk more about the actual construction process.]]>Mon, 11 Sep 2017 13:47:37 GMTabb38c6d-073d-48fe-92a1-1aa2ab471ed3Fri, 01 Sep 2017 15:07:10 GMTf4615cfe-6bef-4cd8-a55e-9aaabb5dd262Thu, 24 Aug 2017 01:20:46 GMT8d142a8a-cdbb-4e3c-82a2-31a02cb17085th CoCo, but my 10 year anniversary! It’s hard to believe that I once had the courage to fly across the country by myself to meet up with a bunch of strangers, but I did, and that first trip (and subsequent trips) introduced me to some of my closest friends. It’s funny to think how much Costume College has changed in the past ten years. Its grown significantly, with so many people and amazing costumes both during the day and at the official evening events, that it can be very overwhelming to a quiet, shy person like myself, even after all these years.]]>Wed, 23 Aug 2017 22:32:23 GMT9f1c94f7-6b81-4be3-910e-7a40f7e43378Mon, 24 Jul 2017 15:22:19 GMT70d7cef4-a556-413e-9186-a2ebd5701c6eball in Bath and at the 2016 Jane Austen Festival) was a bit of an experiment. I had been planning to make a new late 1790s white dress for some time. I wanted a gathered front for adjustability, but I didn’t want to do the exact same construction as my green sarcenet gown. You see so many different ways of constructing front gathered gowns in this transitional period, and I wanted to explore more with this style.]]>Sun, 02 Jul 2017 15:55:01 GMTff2b88e7-7695-4dac-8c73-775d0d426b0eMon, 05 Jun 2017 13:31:07 GMT014f113c-ff83-4369-8796-0a991bae145cWed, 26 Apr 2017 16:32:38 GMT97c12d47-9f68-482c-9dd8-7bd20bc8b012
]]>Tue, 25 Apr 2017 18:36:37 GMTa47ae983-a4f9-48ce-bc4c-5640fd02473aSun, 26 Mar 2017 14:43:48 GMTedfaa9ac-0305-452c-8210-5a75867228fdWed, 15 Mar 2017 17:19:47 GMT6a345bf9-a321-498d-a32e-bf84873f1ee4Katherine and Megan. It was my first time traveling abroad with other history lovers and costumers, and we packed a lot of fun stuff into the trip, including a week-long stay in Bath. I had visited Bath once before with my husband in 2012 but it was only a small part of the trip (less than 24 hours) and ever since, I’ve dreamed of coming back for a longer stay and in costume. It’s just too perfect! Now that I’ve managed to achieve that goal, I’m hooked and can’t wait to return. Jane Austen Festival I’m looking at you! The first of a series of posts about my trip is a picture-heavy recap of the time I went to a ball and came home drenched in champage. ]]>Mon, 06 Mar 2017 00:22:29 GMT2450d64d-c986-4b89-ac2b-7549037bfe23Sat, 11 Feb 2017 22:08:18 GMTa95a6e7b-21e1-4c33-930d-22f905b92f11
]]>Sun, 31 Jan 2016 17:00:32 GMTe6b80217-0adf-47b6-b8bf-f97d315d3747Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell (and very pleased with the TV series too), I had the perfect fabric in the stash, and I just couldn't miss the opportunity to make something from one my favorite stories and join in on the group fun.
]]>Sun, 09 Aug 2015 17:11:32 GMT46156f2d-8a44-4531-beff-8beb390b51c7Fri, 07 Aug 2015 13:16:02 GMT1e68a7a4-da6a-4559-9846-19400e3911ddFri, 07 Aug 2015 12:55:22 GMTe09676d7-cef3-4aa2-99a0-dd32785f1b7dSat, 18 Jul 2015 01:31:54 GMT37061b9d-6491-49af-9b24-54bea09bec85
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]]>Sat, 19 Apr 2014 15:45:29 GMT3cef26f2-607d-4511-86d4-38ddac188bcd Rose Francaise posts.

]]>Tue, 08 Apr 2014 17:47:04 GMT1d711e60-09e5-4dd9-b430-f119c3315d7fth anniversary celebration of the Margaret Hunter Millinery Shop. The presentations were interesting and well-researched, and I came home inspired, my brain buzzing with new information and ideas. Obviously, I can’t share all of the speaker’s hard work on my blog, but I can talk about a few of the program highlights.

]]>Thu, 03 Apr 2014 18:58:15 GMT49deb8ee-53b7-4985-bd12-5916e6dae573]]>Mon, 24 Mar 2014 16:37:48 GMTbd050cad-8a3a-4b3e-b871-26bbdbd54e24I’m back from an exciting and hectic trip to PA for the 3rd annual Francaise Dinner. Between flight delays, long drives, and inclement weather, the trip ended up being more stressful than I had planned, but I still had a wonderful time with friends and it was great to see everyone dressed in their best finery!
]]>Thu, 06 Mar 2014 17:55:11 GMT9479dbfb-67ce-41a4-8e68-2af63cbb2f90]]>Sun, 23 Feb 2014 17:33:45 GMT403b18df-1f0f-443d-9000-f7e588d45fba]]>Sun, 02 Feb 2014 20:39:48 GMT98aed6d4-1311-4b02-8ee3-da115105d32fKendra has put together. Depsite this, I have to add my two cents.

]]>Wed, 15 Jan 2014 03:46:06 GMTb079e583-13b5-4fda-a609-04b40091b82e
So what is on the agenda for 2014? I’m still plugging away on the riding habit, but I have to put it aside for now to start a new project.

]]>Mon, 13 Jan 2014 17:29:08 GMT3b3fc6b9-4873-4458-93e2-3492cd7dcac4As a great portion of the United States can attest, it’s been quite cold the past few days. Where I live it didn’t get nearly as cold as other parts of the country, but -2 is not a number we see very often and I’ve been trying to stay warm by wearing as many layers as possible. I’m naturally cold all the time, and my thin blood can’t handle much below freezing. I often wonder how I would have survived in the days before central heating and electricity. Honestly, I'm doubtful.
]]>Wed, 08 Jan 2014 17:14:58 GMT26ff5771-61ff-41fc-872c-71f997f2f451

2013 was in interesting year. I wasn't nearly as productive as I was in 2012, but despite a sewing slump at the end of the year, I'm really proud of everything I made this year. I feel that my skills are continuing to improve and my goal for 2014 is to focus on quality rather than quantity. At the moment I only have two events planned for the coming year, so I want to take this opportunity to slow down, to concentrate on making each outfit to the best of my ability and avoid rushing through the project just to get to the next.

]]>Tue, 31 Dec 2013 17:50:16 GMT3d767494-ba29-41f6-aee1-0bd4c2c33f9e]]>Thu, 19 Dec 2013 20:47:55 GMTf31e5c97-04e7-4051-89b8-259208fdb4bd]]>Fri, 13 Dec 2013 19:44:57 GMTa77ba5cd-8126-4591-a0fd-db13f2f08bf5]]>Wed, 04 Dec 2013 21:14:03 GMT3c710921-6f0b-4046-b039-8cecef8831bf]]>Wed, 09 Oct 2013 21:26:36 GMTad5a5973-9f71-4cf1-8b94-db8776e464e9]]>Thu, 03 Oct 2013 17:30:25 GMTf16fd634-9a11-4c92-8cd1-5b4b915af7cc]]>Thu, 19 Sep 2013 15:18:57 GMT5501d880-c5d9-4aac-98aa-2d6ae2c41a88]]>Thu, 05 Sep 2013 15:56:55 GMTe6a3fa9e-af21-45cf-8774-c9a311c45aae]]>Sat, 31 Aug 2013 17:37:39 GMT1f9127fe-59b6-4dba-bb88-08b288deb3e4
When I was preping for Costume College, I came to the realization that there was no way my riding habit hat would fit in my suitcase. I certainly didn't want to crush it and wearing it on the plane really isnt something I'm willing to do (for many reasons), so I stole was inspired by Jen Thompson's idea of making one of those fluffy cap/turban things you see so often in the late 18th century to wear with my habit. I went for a simple, undecorated look like these two portraits:

]]>Wed, 24 Jul 2013 13:30:02 GMTb4960039-3fa7-400e-8c60-d9a54d2207f5 little sleeveless spencer or over bodice to go with it. I've been wanting one (or several) for ages and this dress seemed like the perfect thing to wear under it. I had some blue silk velvet in the stash and using the pattern from my dress, I had a new accessory in a little over a day!

]]>Sat, 20 Jul 2013 17:08:35 GMT9c85e5e2-534c-4626-9897-20cc670b1fbe]]>Wed, 17 Jul 2013 22:47:07 GMTa0dd8ff0-4037-46d0-be80-898e14fda433I finally got to start my new 1790s dress and this is all I have to show for a week’s worth of work. It’s not that I haven’t been spending days working in the sewing room. No, my first attempt at the cross bodice was a complete and utter failure. It’s my own fault though. You would think that after nearly 10 years (!) of costuming I would learn to make a full mockup. Instead I get impatient and plunge ahead after just a few tries. It’s ok, really. At least I recognize my weakness. ;)
]]>Wed, 10 Jul 2013 18:00:24 GMTd1787602-a543-4e59-a608-f584195ba747]]>Wed, 03 Jul 2013 14:49:16 GMTb9b453b8-634e-41ab-a43e-0439dcccb611

]]>Wed, 29 May 2013 16:09:07 GMTe7c07c72-f19f-484e-b88f-c09cdcc9397cWed, 22 May 2013 14:07:38 GMT35a7d2ca-3c3d-40bd-a7a7-9edd6be71912My 18th century wardrobe full of pretty, pretty princess clothes – silk and frills galore – but not much in the way of practical clothing. If I’m being honest, lower class clothing just doesn’t appeal. But after I made my brown wool petticoat, I knew I needed another jacket to go with it, something I wouldn’t be afraid to get dirty or messy. Enter the teal ikat jacket!
]]>Sat, 11 May 2013 17:00:39 GMT4dc9ebcc-e5f3-43cf-b3c8-73563a98c5ff
When it came time to construct something to wear underneath my riding habit jacket, I admit I was a bit stumped. There just isn’t that much information out there to the casual researcher about what exactly was going on beneath those habit jackets. Finally, I settled on the idea of a separate shirt to wear over my corset and shift but under the waistcoat like a man’s shirt.

]]>Tue, 07 May 2013 16:41:58 GMTd177ef43-abc2-415f-8b42-a6a8676bcbdaAnd it’s back to the Williamsburg outfit posts!

I think one of my favorite parts of this trip was getting to make and wear all kinds of fun accessories. The kinds of things like mitts and cloaks that you just don’t need at a hotel convention or summer picnic, those little things that make the outfit seem more like clothing and less like a costume.

]]>Mon, 22 Apr 2013 23:44:31 GMT6745767f-3a84-4664-84cb-07627b892869Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:35:35 GMTb6489057-df59-4e73-8d3f-6d41309ac9aaKendra, Maggie, and Rebecca and Ashley from A Fashionable Frolick all nominated me for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. Thank you! I feel very honored!]]>Fri, 12 Apr 2013 21:51:41 GMTfceb2d8b-ed11-45a5-a275-5fa6bb0cfa6cIn my original wardrobe plans for Williamsburg I had intended to make several new day outfits, but time got away from me and ended up pulling out my wavy print jacket and petticoat to wear instead. I have to say I’m really glad I did! When prepping for an event, it’s easy for me to get into the mindset that everything I wear needs to be new, so I often forget how much I enjoy rewearing favorite costumes. My events are so few and so spread out that it feels almost obligatory to make something new every time, but I’m resolving this year to focus on quality over quantity and make things I truly love and am proud of the construction.
]]>Wed, 10 Apr 2013 15:44:32 GMT6cb23306-2493-49e1-b4eb-58051c65ef58]]>Fri, 05 Apr 2013 16:34:14 GMT3d5a51ca-17c5-45c7-8336-befc8edead00Thu, 04 Apr 2013 18:16:28 GMTe5feb1db-4cbc-4c1a-8a0f-e2bbaff00b36With less than a week until I leave for Williamsburg, I'm happy to say the bulk of my sewing is finished! The habit shirt and jacket are both wearable (though lacking buttonholes), and while the jacket is far from perfect, I'm not disappointed with my first attempts at tailoring. As you can tell, my final designed morphed from early to mid 1780s to very definitely late 1780s early 1790s. When I'm pressed for time, I dont fight the fabric, I just let it do the talking. I plan some more detailed construction posts later, but for now I have a few photos to share.]]>Wed, 20 Mar 2013 18:19:52 GMT41f56eb1-844b-4fd3-a5df-91b98060034e

With my Williamsburg deadline less than three weeks away, sewing has taken top priority. I’m thoroughly impressed with people who can manage to sew and blog at the same time. I don’t seem to have that talent, so until I get some projects off my plate, I will share a sneak peek at my new satin birthday dress.

]]>Wed, 06 Mar 2013 16:55:01 GMTf10f4985-350f-4c1c-b875-63de45e66161Quinn was kind enough to nominate me for the One Lovely Blog Award. Thank you! Unfortunately, I’m more than a little late in getting to this, but I hope you will excuse my tardiness.

]]>Sat, 23 Feb 2013 17:29:24 GMTda3731c9-bbce-492d-8705-cd83d9673da0]]>Sun, 17 Feb 2013 17:15:59 GMT4c2a5ca9-a7d5-420b-bc1b-8a08e50690cf]]>Thu, 07 Feb 2013 16:28:53 GMT0b40bb1a-95da-49a6-ace1-de251dd7e1c8 Jenny-Rose's latest fabulous party. Imagine an evening filled with tasty drinks and period nibbles, games of Whist and Speculation, everyone in their finest Regency attire, all set in a room lit with dozen of candles. Perfection! I had a wonderful time playing cards, drinking punch and champagne, meeting new people, and catching up with old friends.

]]>Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:53:20 GMT7948e390-0f08-4197-bf07-b17dd1332b38I can’t believe that we are already more than half-way through January. Where did the month go? I started the new year with not one but two colds, considerably slowing my sewing progress. However, with my next deadline looming at the beginning of February, I haven’t been idle. So far in 2013 I’ve finished a new pair of regency stays and a regency petticoat, made significant progress on my grey evening gown, and started a new 18th century jacket. First, let’s talk stays.

]]>Fri, 18 Jan 2013 16:47:41 GMT512b7522-f2f0-4e33-82c0-5d76fd19b7f6Happy New Year! Now that 2013 is officially here, it's time to look back and see what I accomplished last year. 2012 was a big year for me. I had more free time than ever before so I sewed like a mad woman. I also traveled like crazy, visiting England, Paris, and New York City for the first time, as well as going back to old favorites like Denver and L.A.. Overall, it is a great year to look back on.
]]>Tue, 01 Jan 2013 18:34:54 GMT37a341cf-1a7f-45c3-89ea-da09a240151d2012 is almost at a close and before I do my end of the year review (and its massive), I wanted to share the last 100% finished project of the year.
]]>Mon, 31 Dec 2012 20:59:19 GMTba69bb91-f04f-4707-b22b-1c2f2633114e]]>Tue, 18 Dec 2012 21:02:12 GMTcb87f93b-4537-4d0e-b31d-d38443fa3b80]]>Thu, 13 Dec 2012 20:04:49 GMTf2b4aab3-1a78-4e40-bbe6-9f4471bf6981Have you ever had a project that seemed simple in theory, but fought you every step of the way?

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]]>Sat, 24 Nov 2012 18:03:05 GMTd41d17d0-d37c-4dc7-94ff-8789b520ec85When we last left off, I had just scaled up and fitted the 1780 stays pattern from Corsets and Crinolines. Now, after a few minor setbacks, my stays are complete!

In a perfect world these would be hand sewn, but time constraints and physical ability can’t be ignored. I want to have these and the dresses to go over them finished in time for my Williamsburg trip in March.

]]>Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:56:33 GMT09aa3007-7f4b-4a41-b0df-6ac70c049da2my riding habit? I promise I haven’t, but lately I’ve been suffering from a severe case of CADD (Costuming ADD), jumping from project to project like a spastic puppy. However, despite my lack of focus, I have managed to finish the petticoat.

Fall is here, and with it chilly weather, so naturally my thoughts have been turning to warm clothing. In my current wardrobe, I have my teal silk mantle, but that’s not good for rain, and a cardinal red wool cloak that clashes with all my outfits. Clearly I need some new outerwear for my upcoming trip to Wiliamsburg in March.

Since my current obsession is all things 18th century, it probably won’t surprise you that I’ve been trying my hand at a few new accessories. It’s been on my sewing to do list for more than five years now to make a pair of knitted garters, as well as a pair of embroidered ones, but honestly I haven’t had the time or reason to do so until now. In the past it was always more pressing for me to get a new outfit finished; unnecessary accessories were always put on the back burner. Now, I am happy to say that last month I was able to cross both types of garters off my list!

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]]>Fri, 28 Sep 2012 17:00:18 GMTe1459f9c-d7cb-4fe5-b21b-21680e160d85I am happy to say my costume portfolio page is now up to date! I haven't listed everything I ever made, but I do have pages for several of my older costumes. Not only does it show where I started, but I feel it better represents my personal style as a whole. Please excuse the lack of decent pictures. I really didn't know what I was doing back then. ;)]]>Wed, 26 Sep 2012 20:42:58 GMT79c5e1fd-626f-4120-96e4-e70d359f0298

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I've wanted an 18th century riding habit for as long as I can remember (my childhood obsession with Felicitiy's riding habit being mostly to blame), and it’s been on my costuming bucket list for far too long. Since I will be visiting Williamsburg in the early spring rather than the brutally hot summer this year, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to finally make one!

]]>Sat, 01 Sep 2012 18:38:55 GMT1bca3c93-59af-47e0-8308-cbafca8b0324It's no secret that I have a weakness for jewelry. What girl doesn't? For years I've dreamt of having a color paste necklace to wear with my 18th century outfits, but sadly all the antique or vintage ones I've found have been way out of my price range.

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]]>Wed, 22 Aug 2012 21:31:15 GMT14a504cf-5a5e-436f-bfe7-c0e31f55bfb3During the day on Saturday, a group of dressed up in fantasy Roman Loungewear. The idea was to have a comfy costume to lounge in by the pool. It didn’t have to be historically accurate, just fabulous!

]]>Wed, 22 Aug 2012 19:41:53 GMT3ea8c07b-72cc-463c-8700-50fad7a42f1cHere’s another outfit I finished last fall, but didn’t have a chance to wear until Costume College - my cream spotty bodice, peplum and skirt!
]]>Tue, 21 Aug 2012 18:36:42 GMT50039b5e-2827-4ef2-8b89-99ff571528a2After Sara and I taught our class on Friday at Costume College, we changed into our Victorian naturalist or explorer outfits to have quick photo shoot in the wilderness behind the Woodland Hills Marriot.]]>Tue, 21 Aug 2012 17:53:20 GMT4ed169f8-39b6-4122-91d2-a6d824f27139Continuing the Costume College recap…

The day after our trip to the Huntington Library, we decided to head to the beach – in 20s bathing suits, of course!

]]>Tue, 21 Aug 2012 16:33:19 GMTaacb7ef4-bacc-42e2-9b23-7b51b144518aKatherine, Sara, and I dressed in our best 20s summer frocks and headed to the Huntington Library and Gardens for tea.

]]>Sun, 19 Aug 2012 17:50:21 GMT3483c5c1-d26b-40bc-9fb6-814c6202f643In case you aren’t familiar with it, Costume College is a 3 day conference focusing on all things costuming, from historical to movie to theater. During the day there are a variety of lecture and workshop classes taught by volunteers and the evenings are full of fun social events. Not only is it a great opportunity to get dressed up and see friends and fellow costumers, you also have ample opportunity to learn! Coming to L.A. from the other side of the country it’s quite an expensive trip for me, but I’ve gone five times now and it’s totally worth it!
]]>Sun, 19 Aug 2012 17:32:31 GMT7b5623a9-9fab-4f90-b74f-fc2746cf4df7here.

]]>Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:30:59 GMT912e9ae9-76a6-4ad9-a392-90674c0c827fWow! Its been over a month since my last post. I apologize for the radio silence over here, but life will not slow down it seems. Between travel, work, and power outages, my sewing room has turned into a sweat shop as I've been frantically prepping for Costume College. With a little over a week until I leave for the convention I'm finally starting to see the light at the end of the sewing tunnel, so I thought I would share a quick dress I made last month. ]]>Sun, 22 Jul 2012 09:56:38 GMT227dda9e-f52e-493c-99a7-914285a360f8And continuing with the catch-up post theme, here is a little reticule I made recently. When I was still planning to wear 1790s to Dress U, I decided I needed a proper purse to hold all my crap. At the time, I only had one brown velvet reticule to use at events, and without the advantage of 18th century pockets, you really need a place to stash things like your cell phone, camera, money, etc.
]]>Mon, 18 Jun 2012 16:31:21 GMT1bd0f748-8583-411b-b36c-21bc1634586fI’ve always wanted a coral necklace to wear with my 18th century and Regency costumes. I blame Felicity. American Girl fans will understand that Pleasant Company has a lot to answer for!
]]>Sun, 10 Jun 2012 22:47:33 GMT4750ba78-ba81-47dd-a5cd-54c4d278e31eThu, 07 Jun 2012 18:51:57 GMT60daf257-dbbe-498d-a491-2e8ed1672797Dress U convention.]]>Wed, 06 Jun 2012 19:35:57 GMT039e449f-2159-4d78-9a64-3d7c9fe025f1]]>Sun, 27 May 2012 19:29:00 GMT3be4202b-a001-44a7-8ee5-c745f1f8f18a]]>Sun, 27 May 2012 19:09:10 GMT815ddba8-d4e5-4fd5-9003-054d2f5bb7b9 I borrowed a friend's and realized that they could be cute!]]>Wed, 23 May 2012 02:46:34 GMT5056e2f2-5348-498a-a1ed-d11d74ebee08 Kedleston Hall, followed by tea and gambling at Megan’s. We were joined by Megan’s mom and a couple of her local friends.]]>Mon, 14 May 2012 21:10:24 GMT3a90112a-edb7-49b9-8e22-f8d1a047cc9d

Last weekened I had the pleasure of attending an Edwardian dinner party. It was such a wonderful trip that I don’t know where to begin. Imagine a road trip with good friends, lots of last minute sewing and party prep, and finally an amazing 13 course meal surrounded by old and new friends. It will definitely be a highlight of my costuming life!

]]>Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:08:45 GMTdfb54c5c-88c5-4bba-9beb-bccf56be8998]]>Fri, 30 Mar 2012 21:43:39 GMT60e3198c-913c-4067-929b-ea297689141eAesthetic dress, but as comfortable as that dress is, I wanted something even more snuggly. Most days I'm bundled up in a "old man" sweater (as my husband says), so my idea of lounge wear is distinctly warm. The perfect soulution? A silk velvet robe!

I’m such a bad blogger! The undergarments and dress for the upcoming Titanic dinner are finished, but I haven’t posted anything here! Sometimes, for me, I have to choose between sewing and blogging/computer time, and invariably sewing always wins. Before I reveal the gown, though, I thought I would share what goes under it first.

]]>Fri, 16 Mar 2012 20:15:23 GMT50ce1cee-5ee8-4123-a549-06017942b6cd No really, I’m starting from the ground up for this dinner. I need a new chemise, corset and petticoat for the teens era.]]>Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:10:45 GMT9483dd24-fadb-4fb1-bf6c-ede83557f825Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:06:33 GMT23383d09-f719-4e67-9cb5-865c2a909781]]>Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:47:02 GMT36460459-8618-415d-a685-235974fa307fSarah Juniper shoes!]]>Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:46:21 GMT6dc61895-0df1-42e2-927f-f0836568b4c4]]>Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:35:10 GMT4c29fd0a-8b12-4986-9d47-6695261f9fdaWed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:02 GMT1b10d91d-00a1-462e-bfef-56c787c83816]]>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:06:46 GMT220fb52e-0f19-4e05-ad18-b7931a15eddd]]>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:47:00 GMTeaf517c9-4c00-4f43-8a00-76579affdafcSun, 22 Jan 2012 20:36:34 GMT81ad6b13-3c15-4741-9d8b-eefb029c8184]]>Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:14:35 GMT9f2b29a5-8b1f-4f5a-9e34-32afa34d0b68]]>Sun, 15 Jan 2012 21:08:55 GMTc35eee7a-5697-44af-b28f-c551bc170832th century dinner at the beginning of February, and while I have a perfectly good Française already, I couldn’t resist the urge to make a new one. It’s been three years since I made the aqua Française and I’ve worn it at least half a dozen times so I don’t feel that guilty.]]>Sun, 01 Jan 2012 23:50:56 GMT3d345e25-7252-45ff-9196-9b1ef8b69b3f
How many polka dot dresses does one girl need? Well, if you are me, about a million! Before Christmas I started a new mid-1790s white gown. My old one is covered in brown stains, the casualty of a leak in my costume closet (but thankfully one of the few casualties), so it was time for a new one! This time I picked a spotted cotton from the stash that I had originally earmarked for a summer bustle gown. The fabric has raised dots but I choose to use the back side for a more subtle look.]]>Thu, 29 Dec 2011 20:41:52 GMTbc7ed899-9526-437e-a271-86aaebcf9c42]]>Tue, 27 Dec 2011 19:53:36 GMT126326c4-9b8f-4619-9082-12d461c00e7b]]>Sat, 10 Dec 2011 18:37:54 GMT0d04dfed-deb2-4c6c-955c-867b9cc43350]]>Sat, 10 Dec 2011 17:40:39 GMT156ab1fa-c1a0-4943-be83-d174af55f07fFri, 09 Dec 2011 22:25:18 GMT9822422f-a0a8-407b-8565-5a3c55bd49f9]]>Sat, 03 Dec 2011 19:34:51 GMT6bbf7ce0-ee1e-47e5-9985-33aa36c4a5ff]]>Sat, 03 Dec 2011 19:02:01 GMT14465ada-6e0a-464b-9c3b-036604cf510b]]>Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:09:13 GMT90928a61-a627-49aa-bb71-ff763c35de40Tue, 15 Nov 2011 01:16:25 GMTc713ce49-d080-4810-8339-e559e257a2e3]]>Fri, 11 Nov 2011 01:12:49 GMT7f72a60a-1699-4054-9ead-83944e0f891c

]]>Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:51:27 GMT5ded88a1-43f9-4fe6-aa0f-1f21b5644dcf]]>Mon, 19 Sep 2011 20:52:11 GMT74258e99-78b2-4c88-92d2-7d006bb91205Thu, 08 Sep 2011 00:04:06 GMT73fcea68-3642-49b8-872c-acd787a8ffc0It’s no secret that I have a fascination with Aesthetic art and design, among many other things. I admit I am lured by the beauty and extravagance of the movement. Happily, at the distance of 150+ years, I can look at things through rose-colored glasses; I have the luxury of romanticizing the past and imagining it is applicable to my life.

So with that fascination in mind, this spring when my husband and I took a trip to Washington, D.C. for our anniversary, I made it a point to stop by the Freer Gallery of Art to check out the installation of Whistler’s Peacock Room. And boy, it didn’t disappoint.